A public consultation has opened on a proposal for a telecommunications structure at Southern Road Recreation Ground, Thame.

Thame Town Council has been in discussion with Shared Access about the plan and Pegasus Group launched a 4-week public consultation on Tuesday, May 9.

The council is keen to see a wide response to the consultation, so that the final decision on the plan is based on community consensus and as much evidence as possible.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council is pursuing the option because of the numerous benefits, while also being aware that such initiatives can give rise to concern, from a visual and health and safety point of view.”

Benefits to Thame include improved mobile phone coverage, a long term lighting solution for the much used car park at the Southern Road Recreation Ground at no cost to Thame; an additional financial contribution of around £70,000 which would be used by the town council for the benefit of Thame residents.

There is more detail on the proposals in the consultation letter and site location plan, which is available at the Town Hall or the council’s website at https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/2017/05/09/public-consultation-proposed-telecommunications-structure-southern-road-recreation-ground-southern-road-thame/

Please send any comments to Rachel Morrison, planning assistant at Pegasus Group, at rachel.morrison@pegasuspg.co.uk or call 01454 625 945.

A village cafe helping people with dementia and their carers is inviting visitors to join them during a campaign day.

The Forget Me Knot Café, which meets every other Monday at Chinnor Village Centre, is promoting Dementia Awareness Week which runs from Monday, May 15, until Sunday, May 21, and will be open from 10.30am until 12.30pm.

The café opens with coffee, tea and biscuits, welcoming hugs, lots of chat and catch ups and at 11am a musician visits, which is a regular entertainment.

On Monday Andrea Yates, a singer/guitarist from Thame, will be running a session with drums and percussion instruments and everyone can join in the singing.

Michele, who helps run the cafe, said: “We finish the session with silly games, which may be getting out the very large brightly coloured parachute, the beach ball for a game of volleyball, flat football, balloon games, ball throwing skills or a bit of juggling.

“At the end of the morning we have a quiet time with a reading or a poem and anyone can take part in this. We would love to have some budding poets to join our group so come along.”

Katie Appleton, dementia support worker for South Oxfordshire, will be on hand to answer questions and talk about her work.

Michele added: “All are welcome and it is a great opportunity to find out more about what we do and what support there is out there for you.”

Dementia Awareness week is supported by the Alzheimers Society which provides support and research for those affected by dementia.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/forgetmeknotcafe or call Michele on 07779732097.

Residents are being asked to take any old tools not needed to a collection point in Thame to help trainee trades and crafts people in Africa.

The Rotary Club of Thame is organising the collection in the Montesson Square main car park, near the Market House, on Saturday, May 20, from 9am until 1pm.

You can take sewing machines, tools used for plumbing, carpentry, metalworking, building, bicycle repair, shoe repair and car repair, but no garden tools are accepted.

The collected items are taken to the Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) collection centre in Southampton, a charity which refurbishes them and sends them to non-governmental organisations in Africa. They distribute them free to men and women who are provided with training and start up kits to set up their own businesses after completing training not only in their chosen trade, but in business management, financial and life skills.

Trainee Mohammed Kanteh, from Sierra Leone, has hearing difficulties and has never attended school, but wanted the opportunity to learn a trade and earn money to support his mother and five siblings. He took part in a TFSR training programme, in partnership with Mobility Sierra Leone, and learnt how to repair wheelchairs and bicycles. He is now part of a small business, along with some fellow graduates, and they are already planning how to use their profits to expand.

Visit www.thame.rotary1090.org

Hundreds of people from Thame have helped raise more than £7,000 in memory of Barnaby Cork during a family fun day fundraiser.

The day was hosted at the ASM Stadium who donated the football stadium for free, with the main event being a football match between Thame Dads - teachers at John Hampden, Barnaby’s primary school - and the Iron Maiden XI, a squad created by band member Steve Harris.

Barnaby died aged four following a tragic accident at Thame Leisure Centre car park in December.

The event for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance was described as an amazing success with an estimated 400 people attending on Bank Holiday Monday.

Along with the football match, which Thame Dads won 2 - 1, there was fun with Beat the Goalie at half time, face painting, bouncy castle, Zorbing and Lego tables.

Four Thame parents, Stuart and Lisa Gibson, Sarah Stevens and Sharon Smits, spent weeks organising the event, with stalls and raffle prizes for a grand draw.

Mrs Gibson said: “We have been completely overwhelmed by what happened as so many of us know the family. It has been amazing to see the support not just for the family but also for the air ambulance.

“It is sad that it takes something so tragic and awful like this to happen for people to support the charity. But people have been so generous letting us use the stadium for free, donating prizes, donating their time and of course donating money.”

Thame businesses also generously donated luxury prizes for the raffle, including a week’s holiday in a Mallorca villa.

Former head teacher Alan Haigh, who compered during the football match, said: “It is great being involved in a community event such as this. The charity football match was a true community effort by the people of Thame, who were big hearted in their support of this event and the TVAA charity. Support came from the surrounding towns and villages too, with one pensioner being so touched he travelled on the bus from Oxford just to donate to the TVAA.”

A community-run children’s centre saved from closure has been boosted with a donation of more than £7,700 from the mayor of Thame’s charity fund.

Cllr Linda Emery, who handed over the chains of office this week, presented a cheque for £7,747 to Amy Spicer, centre leader, and John Hulett, chair of trustees, at the new Red Kite Family Centre, in Southern Road, during the Thame Town Council meeting on Tuesday.

Mr Hulett said: “We were really pleased when the mayor decided to choose the Red Kite Centre as one of her two charities to support. It’s a tribute to the tireless effort that she has given to supporting us through the year that her charity appeal has been able to raise so much money for us. A big thank you to Linda and everyone who has contributed by attending one of her many charity events.”

Following a year of preparation and fundraising by a community working group, the new centre held a launch event on Wednesday, April 26.

Amongst the many invited guests were Cllr Emery, who performed the official opening, and many others who have given support to the campaign to keep the centre running after Oxfordshire County Council cut its funding and left it facing closure.

Mr Hulett said he was delighted that the funds had been raised to keep the centre open, at least for the coming year and hopefully beyond that.

He said: “There were two key reasons for wanting to keep this centre open. Firstly, the support and activities that it offers to all parents and 0-4year-olds can only really work if they are based in the local community, here in Thame, and also in Chinnor.

Secondly, Amy Spicer as leader of the former children’s centre, is so highly respected and trusted for the work she and her team have done supporting these young families in the past that we were determined to make sure it could continue.”

Amy introduced her new staff team to everyone and the mayor unveiled the new family centre sign and paid tribute to all the hard work that had gone into launching the community initiative.

About 70 families and their children attended the opening event where children were also thrilled to meet a giant Gecko and teddy bear organised for the centre by the regional Co-op team.

Full details of the centre programme can be found on their website at www.redkitefamilycentre.org and Facebook. You can call 01844 261163 or email

info@redkitefamilycentre.org

Simon Lee is senior lecturer in politics at University of Hull.

In UK general elections, England matters. It accounts for 82% or 533 out of 650 constituencies in the national parliament. At the 2015 general election, 318 (or 96%) of the Conservatives’ 330 seats were won in England, as were nearly 93% of the their votes.

Of Labour’s 100 most vulnerable seats, 86 are in England. For the Conservatives, 81 of the top 100 most vulnerable are also constituencies in England.

If Prime Minister Theresa May is to achieve a much increased majority at Westminster in 2017, it will be in England that her electoral fate will be predominantly determined. A key question is how many of the 3.6m voters who backed UKIP in 2015.

What’s more, important issues such as the NHS, education, higher education and housing are devolved, so this election will feature many England-only policies.

The cuts that need to be made to the national funding formula for schools, for example, apply only to schools in England. It’s only the NHS in England that needs to address a forecast £30 billion funding gap by 2020-21. And it’s also only the NHS in England that has been described as facing a “humanitarian crisis” by the Red Cross.

Simple electoral arithmetic and political logic therefore suggests that the politics of England should feature front and centre in the 2017 general election campaign in England.

A hole in the political map

Paradoxically, not one of the major UK political parties has yet announced plans to produce a dedicated national manifesto for England. They are, as usual, producing UK plans, and the two parties always produce manifestos for the much smaller constituencies of Wales and Scotland but have not mentioned England.

The explanation for this is simple but goes to the heart of why the British power elite has become so detached from the electorate in England.

Despite their manifold differences over Brexit, the one thing which has continued to unite the leaderships of the UK’s three major political parties is their overt British nationalism. They share the conviction that political narratives of national renewal must mean British renewal, delivered via the institutions of the centralised British state.

Most recently, this has been manifested in May’s Plan for Britain. This policy purports to be aimed at building a “stronger, fairer” country, even though devolution to the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland means that it can only really be a “Plan for England”.

May, Jeremy Corbyn, Tim Farron and others therefore have been observing one of the unwritten laws of British nationalism. This states that no party shall publish a manifesto for England during a UK general election campaign, because it might challenge the authority of the British state. It might jeopardise Westminster’s capacity to continue to govern England in the centralised, top-down fashion to which the British party political power elite have become accustomed.

Only once has this unwritten law been challenged. During the 2015 general election campaign, David Cameron and William Hague launched the Conservative Party’s first ever English manifesto. It was the first such manifesto by any major political party.

However, even then Cameron began his launch speech on the defensive, stating: “Let me be clear: we do not support English nationalists … we do not want an English parliament … we are the Conservative and Unionist Party through and through and through.”

Fearing nationalism

Cameron was articulating one of the enduring characteristics of the British power elite, from Tony Blair to May. Any demand for an English parliament or devolution to England amounts to English nationalism.

However, there is nothing intrinsically nationalistic about the desire to enhance either the process of English governance or the creation of a democratic, institutional civic English national identity to better reflect the increasingly plural and multicultural population of England.

For the British party political power elite, the danger of opening up an English political narrative is that the English electorate might begin to look a bit more closely at the funding formula that sustains the British union. They might ask why identifiable public spending in England, at £8,638 a person in 2014-15, is 14.6% lower than in Wales (£9,904). They might wonder why it’s as much as 20.1% lower than in Scotland (£10,374) and 28.6% lower than in Northern Ireland (£11,106).

Voters in England might also question why mayoral elections are being held in six combined authorities across the country. This despite the fact that more than two-thirds of mayoral referendums and no fewer than nine out of ten cities, have voted to reject an elected mayoral system of governance. No voter in England has sanctioned these decisions in a referendum.

In the 1975 European Community referendum, England voted 68.7% in favour of staying in the European Community. It was the most europhilic of the nations of the UK. By June 2016, England had become the most eurosceptic of the nations. It voted 53.3% to leave the European Union and was decisive in determining the referendum’s outcome.

One key lesson for the British power elite is clear: ignore the national politics of England at your peril.

This article originally appeared on theconversation.com

From the moment we pulled into the North Devon hotel's reception area and were greeted by jovial doorman Neil Tynan, suitably attired in a top hat and smart tailed coat, we were made to feel at home.

"Welcome to the Saunton Sands Hotel," he beamed while beckoning a porter to remove our luggage from the car, adding: "We hope to make your stay with us an enjoyable one".

It was just the start we needed on a long weekend break, especially after a four hour drive from Bedford to the village of Saunton which is a few miles east of Barnstaple, North Devon's largest town.

Saunton Sands is the flagship of the family-owned Brend Hotel Group which features 11 top quality West Country properties and was voted the proud winner of the 2015 Hotel Group of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards.

The four-star art deco-styled Saunton Sands Hotel has the enviable position of being perched high on the hillside overlooking more than three miles of a pristine sandy beach while it sits alongside the unique 1,500-acre World UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve site of Braunton Burrows.

Built in the 1930s by the Christie family of Glyndebourne Opera fame – they also own Tapeley Park, a large family estate at nearby Instow – during the Second World War the hotel was used as a military school before reverting back to a top class establishment.

Purchased by the Brend family in December 1977, Saunton Sands has undergone many changes but has thankfully retained its many glamourous art deco features… including those wonderful large mirrors in the AA Rosette Award winning dining room and the gold coloured staircases.

Settling into room 118 – let's forget that annoying 'one, one, eight' directory of enquires television advert! – our sea view room on the ground floor had absolutely stunning views from its balcony.

Beautifully appointed, our deluxe accommodation had all the accoutrements you would expect from a top class establishment – a free mini bar, daily newspaper and WiFi, a safe and large flat screen television plus coffee/tea making facilities together with a comfortable giant-sized bed and large en suite with a separate bath and shower cubicle.

With its heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools and an aromatic sauna, the 80-plus room hotel (there are also 12 separate apartments) has plenty of other facilities for those with a sporting bent – a gym, snooker room, squash and tennis courts and table tennis plus a putting green – while right next door is Saunton Golf Club, reputed to be one of the finest in the South of England and one which offers generous discounts to hotel guests.

There is smart cocktail lounge and terrace bar along with a gift shop, hairdressing and beauty treatment salon, while the hotel regularly caters for weddings in its conference and banqueting suites.

The 160 or so hotel staff all seemed very polite indeed and couldn't do enough for you. They were immediately to hand every time you required a drink or snack and were all very smartly turned out in their coordinated black uniforms.

Offering a superb buffet breakfast and an extensive dinner menu – you needed to reserve evening dining with the restaurant manager – guests in deluxe rooms are always seated by the windows so that they can enjoy uninterrupted views of the beach and Braunton Burrows.

The hotel can also provide picnic lunches, while according to a fellow guest, they have an impressive Sunday lunch menu as well as some scrumptious afternoon teas!

Naturally there is a smart dress code in the dining room as befits a quality establishment but the hotel is also a magnet for families with younger children thanks to the closeness of that stunning beach and those wonderful sand dunes in which you can always find plenty of space.

We also enjoyed a delicious complimentary Devon cream tea on the terrace overlooking the beach while the Sands on the Beach restaurant, located at the foot of a winding wooden staircase, is open throughout the day and serves steaks, burgers and locally caught seafood until late in the evening.

The beach itself is gently shelving so is perfect for youngsters while surfers, longboarders and paddleboarding abound as the consistency of the waves brings them to the area in their droves.

The hotel, which is located high above the northern end of the beach, can also arrange surfing tuition with Sarah Whiley, herself an expert wave rider and the hotel's resident coach, while wetsuit hire is available for all shapes and sizes.

Other surfing hot spots are nearby Croyde Bay and Woolacombe which are just round the headland while beyond Saunton beach and across the wide expanse of the River Taw estuary you can just make out Hartland Point several miles away.

As part of the South West Coastal Path at the southern end of the beach some three miles distant – that's if you have walked alongside Braunton Burrows – you come to Crow Point which lies at the mouth of the Taw estuary. Incidentally the beach itself has a chequered past for it has been used for location shots on several major films while it has also provided the backdrop for a succession of music videos for the likes of Robbie Williams, Olly Murs and Pink Floyd.

However it is its military use which is far more exciting as the Royal Air Force have regularly practiced beach landings on Saunton Sands using their massive Lockheed C-130 Hercules transporter aircraft in preparation for action in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Braunton Burrows sand dunes, besides being an official AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), are also used regularly for military troop training. It is said that there are more than 500 species of flora, fauna and wildlife living in the dunes and in the adjacent Braunton Great Fields area which is a well known archeological site.

As we only had two full days in which to explore the area, we decided to walk from Braunton village to Barnstaple along the six-mile traffic-free Tarka Trail… although in total it actually runs for around 30!

Named after author Henry Williamson's classic fictional story about Tarka the Otter, the trail starts from Braunton's Caen Street car park and follows what is a now a disused railway embankment which was closed by Dr Richard Beeching some 50-plus year ago.

The trail is also part of the National Cycle Network (it's No.27) and the coastal path while it follows the Taw estuary all the away into Barnstaple town centre. However there are stops for refreshments along the way at places like the Waterside Cafe after 2.5 miles and the castle-like Braunton Inn a few hundred yards further on. Apparently you can download an audio guide for the walk from northdevonbiosphere.org.uk

Close to the start of the walk you could also hire bikes from Otter Cycle Hire (tel: 01271 813339) but we chose to stretch our legs instead and on reaching Barnstaple, having viewed plenty of wildlife including oyster catchers and various waders out on the mudflats, we visited the town's famed indoor Pannier Market which is largely unchanged since it was built around 150 years ago and is situated along the pedestrianised High Street.

On our way to the bus station to catch the No.21 back to Braunton, we had chance to pop into Saunton Sands' sister hotel, The Royal & Fortescue. It's one of four Brend Group hotels in the town where the family once owned a butcher's shop before building up their hotel portfolio.

Had we had time, then a visit to the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon might have been in order. It's located in a large Victoria building at the end of Long Bridge and it's free… so worth thinking about if the weather changes for the worst.

There are certainly plenty of things to do come rain or shine in this part of North Devon as Ilfracombe is only a short car ride away from Saunton Sands. There you can visit the aquarium or book a trip out to Lundy Island to see the nesting puffins aboard the 267-seat passenger ship, MS Oldenburg. It sails four times a week at 10am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Ilfracombe and on Saturdays from Bideford – enquiries 01271 863636 or info@lundyisland.co.uk

From Ilfracombe you can also enjoy a Sea Safari – www.ilfracombeseasafari.co.uk - tel: 07827 679189 – with trips of varying length along the coast aboard a fast rubber boat with twin outboard engines. If you're lucky you might see dolphins, seals and all species of seabird nesting on the cliff ledges.

Alternatively there are several fishing boat trips on which you can catch mackerel and dog fish. They all go from the harbour while if sailing or fishing is not your thing, then visiting pretty villages such as Clovelly, Lynton and Lynmouth or the charming Watersmeet maybe an alternative as might be a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society's Rosemoor Gardens close to Great Torrington – see rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

As for the children, then meeting more than 600 animals at Exmoor Zoo in Barnstaple or going to The Big Sheep theme park in Bideford is a possibility as is a shopping trip to the Atlantic Village located along the Clovelly Road in Bideford.

For horse riding and trekking enthusiasts, then Roy's Riding Stables at Croyde Bay is a must (call 01271 890898) while that area is also famous for jumping into the sea off the rocks – it's called 'Coasteering' – and is really only for adrenalin junkies and not the feint-hearted!

For our final day, we chose to visit nearby Arlington Court, once the permanent residence of the Chichester family and now home to the National Trust's Carriage Museum. The museum itself is crammed with horse dawn carriages once owned by various lords and ladies and it also includes the impressive golden House of Commons-owned Speaker's State Coach and Queen Victoria's pony phaeton.

In the impressive neoclassical-style Regency house there are collections of model ships, pewter tankards and ornaments but especially seashells, although visiting children will probably be more excited about spying the bat camera or hunting for geocaches in the extensive grounds.

On the upper floor of the house is an exhibition dedicated to Sir Francis Chichester, the famed sailor who exactly 50 years ago in 1967 single-handedly circumnavigated the globe in his yacht Gypsy Moth IV. Sir Francis was actually from a different branch of the family, the son of the Rev Charles Chichester, the vicar of the nearby village of Shirwell.

However the last family member to live at Arlington Court was Rosalie Chichester who was responsible for much of the huge eclectic collections. She never married and decided to leave the mansion and its 3,500 acres of gardens and parkland to the National Trust before she passed away in 1949.

Arlington Court also has a small Victorian kitchen and tearooms serving dishes made from fruit and vegetables grown in its impressive walled kitchen garden while the flower gardens are quite stunning. There are acres of lawns and flowering meadows but it is the many walks and trails that meander through the deer-inhabited woodland that are so impressive, some passing into deep picturesque valleys and alongside babbling streams.

For more details about Arlington Court, call 01271 850296 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington-court

TRAVEL FACTS

** Many thanks to Saunton Sands Hotel's executive manager Peter Brend and his charming wife Kelly and to Sue Bradbury of SBPR Ltd for arranging our three night stay.

The Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LQ – Tel: 01271 890212 – www.sauntonsands.com and reservations@sauntonsands.com

The Imperial Hotel, Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8BN – Tel: 01271 345861 – www.brend-imperial.co.uk and reservations@brend-imperial.co.uk

Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RY – Tel: 01395 512651 – www.victoriahotel.co.uk and reservations@victoriahotel.co.uk

The Belmont Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RX – Tel: 01395 512555 – www.belmont-hotel.co.uk and reservations@belmont-hotel.co.uk

The Barnstaple Hotel, Braunton Road, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1LE – 01271 376221 – www.barnstaplehotel.co.uk and reservations@barnstaplehotel.co.uk

The Park Hotel, Taw Vale, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 9AE – Tel: 01271 372166 – www.parkhotel.co.uk and reservations@parkhotel.co.uk

Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 342289 – www.royalfortescue.co.uk and reservations@royalfortescue.co.uk

The Royal Hotel, Barnstaple Street, Bideford, Devon EX39 4AE – Tel: 01237 472005 – www.royalbideford.co.ukandreservations@royalbideford.co.uk

The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268 – www.devonhotel.co.uk and reservations@devonhotel.co.uk

The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Sea Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3RD – Tel: 01726 812304 – www.carlyonbay.com and reservations@carlyonbar.com

The Royal Dutchy Hotel, Cliff Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4NX – Tel: 01326 313042 – www.royaldutchy.com and reservations@royaldutchy.com

The Brend Group's Contemporary Restaurants

Sands on the Beach, Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton Beach, Devon EX33 1LQ – 01271 891288.

Carriages Bar & Brasserie, The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268.

62 The Bank Cafe Bar and Bistro, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 324446.

Florentinos Italian, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 3244446.

It was a good day for Theresa May whose reported row with Philip Hammond was completely overshadowed by Labour’s leaked manifesto.

But it was a bad day for the poor cameraman whose foot was run over by a car carrying Jeremy Corbyn to the meeting where the manifesto was supposed to be agreed.

Going up / Going Down

Gordon Brown enjoyed a return to the political spotlight with a typically robust speech on the future of engineering in Britain.

But the speech might not have gone down well with Labour’s leadership, given Mr Brown conspicuously failed to mention Jeremy Corbyn during his 25-minute oration.

Celeb-watch

National treasure Sir Ian McKellen is backing Labour’s Wes Streeting in Ilford North. “I don’t normally get involved in politics, although I have voted, I think, in every election that I’ve been able to,” he said.

Gaffe of the day

It emerged Paul White, the Conservative candidate in Burnley, has taken a holiday to Turkey in the middle of the election campaign

Tweet of the day

That time @theresa_may came to my front door but I was too scared to answer - David Bryan filmed himself hiding from the door-knocking prime minister.

Quote of the day

“[Jeremy Corbyn] would have surrendered Gibraltar to the Spanish, and indeed the Falkands to Australia.” - Ukip’s Paul Nuttall (he meant Argentina).

PR stunt of the day

Not content with kissing babies, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron let a boy he met in Cardiff sit at the wheel of the party’s battle bus.

Blast from the past

Former prime minister David Cameron emerged from his shed to weigh into the fox-hunting debate saying he thought the ban was “a mistake”.

People of Aylesbury be warned, the cabbage-crunching, criminal mastermind Gangsta Granny is coming to town next week.

The acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories and George’s Marvellous Medicine are bringing their world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from Wednesday 17th of May to Sunday 21st May prior to a West End run this summer.

Aimee Eaton, 16, from nearby Bedford, will be dancing a solo piece in Gangsta Granny. She is currently studying for a musical theatre BTEC, alongside taking A Levels in physical education and biology. Aimee dancers 25 hours a week, often with her days staring at 5am and ending at 10pm!

Gangsta Granny author and Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, who recently co-hosted BBC TV’s Sports Relief show and is the creator of the ground-breaking comedy series, Little Britain has established himself as the UK’s best-selling author for children is his parallel career!

He began his publishing career at Harper Collins in early 2008 with his debut novel The Boy in the Dress. Then, after writing two other popular stories, in 2011 he published Gangsta Granny, which was shortlisted for both The Red House Children’s Book Award and for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. At Christmas 2013 a TV version of Gangsta Granny was shown on BBC One with an all-star cast including David Walliams himself. Gangsta Granny went straight to number 1 in the children’s book charts and his books have been translated into no fewer than 30 languages.

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

The cast includes: Ashley Cousins as Ben, Gilly Tompkins (from Leighton Buzzard) as Granny with Louise Bailey, Alison Fitzjohn, Laura Girling, Richard James, Umar Malik, Benedict Martin and Aaron Thiara. Gangsta Granny has been adapted for the stage by Neal Foster. Design is by Jaqueline Trousdale, music by Jak Poore, sound design by Nick Sagar, choreography by Paul Chantry & Rae Piper and lighting by Jason Taylor.

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families and will be enjoyed by everyone from 5 to 105! It’s both laugh-outloud funny with some brilliant comic scenes, but also moving and truthful things about family relationships.

To find out more and book tickets call 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury.

Last night (Thursday) I made my first visit to the Players Theatre in Thame.

I went to watch Thame Players perform ‘Absent Friends’, a comedy written by Alan Ayckbourn.

The play has a cast of six, meaning that they are all on stage for the majority of the show.

This play requires great timing to get maximum effect out of the comic lines, and facial expressions and I felt all the cast executed this brilliantly.

Sitting in the stalls at the front of the theatre, you felt as though you were in the living room with the characters.

The play was very believable and had the audience captivated throughout - you could hear audible gasps when the characters made cutting remarks towards each other.

Although the character of Evelyn (Katie Ell) had the fewest lines, she had to have great concentration and the ability to keep a straight face amidst all the laughter. Katie was able to show us her lovely smile during the curtain call!

Jude Rogers, who played the role of Diana, has been with Thame Players for many years, and her pouring of cream over the head of husband Paul (Kevin Batch) and subsequent breakdown was one of my favourite moments of the whole production.

Marge (Anne Lankester) was the cool customer amidst the chaos, and I enjoyed her facial expressions and felt she had some of the best one-liners.

Josh Rush, playing the character of John, was taking his first role in a main production in the theatre, and was excellent with his character’s relaxed demeanour and constant pacing around the stage.

Kevin Batch, in the role of Paul, showcased the different sides of his character very well, and had the only costume changes of the show.

The last character to appear on stage was Colin (Adam Hurst), and the audience took an instant liking to his warm persona and efforts at always trying to do and say the right things.

The performance was almost flawless, with the exception of one prompt early on.

Afterwards, I was able to take a trip upstairs to the lighting and sound loft, where the ‘magic happens.’

The group has recently updated its lighting desk and the lighting engineer Phil Dumelow, was very enthusiastic about the endless possibilities it offers, many of which he is still finding out.

The theatre is a wonderful old building with a bar in the centre and the front of house team did an excellent jack-of-all-trades job as they were seen welcoming guests at the start and serving behind the bar during the interval.

Absent Friends is running at the theatre tonight (Friday) and Saturday but both shows are sold out, and it is very easy to see why.

You don’t have to wait long for the Thame Players’ next show as they are putting on ‘Honk’, a musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling between Tuesday July 11 and Saturday July 15. It is well worth going if you can.

Neil Shefferd is a former reporter at the Thame Gazette newspaper and a member of amateur dramatics group Stewkley Players, based in Buckinghamshire.

Computers have been shut down across the country after NHS computers across the county were hit by a cyber attack.

The attack is said to be a ‘national’ problem although it is not yet clear how it has affected our area yet.

Dr Tony Naughton, the chief clinical officer at Fylde and Wyre CCG, described the problem as ‘national’, while East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said it believed it had been hit by a ‘cyber attack’ and had suspended all non-urgent activity.

Tech experts are now battling to fix the problem, but computers at walk-in centres, hospitals, and at GP surgeries have been taken offline. Patients have been urged to avoid them all ‘unless absolutely necessary’, and should call 111 for triage and medical advice.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust, one of the those affected, said in a statement: “Today (Friday, 12 May 2017), the trust has experienced a major IT problem, believed to be caused by a cyber attack.

“Immediately on discovery of the problem, the trust acted to protect its IT systems by shutting them down; it also meant that the trust’s telephone system is not able to accept incoming calls.

“To ensure that all back-up processes and procedures were put in place quickly, the trust declared a major internal incident to make sure that patients already in the trust’s hospitals continued to receive the care they need.”

A statement from NHS Digital said: “A number of NHS organisations have reported to NHS Digital that they have been affected by a ransomware attack which is affecting a number of different organisations.

“The investigation is at an early stage but we believe the malware variant is Wanna Decryptor.

“At this stage we do not have any evidence that patient data has been accessed. We will continue to work with affected organisations to confirm this.

“NHS Digital is working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, the Department of Health and NHS England to support affected organisations and to recommend appropriate mitigations.

“This attack was not specifically targeted at the NHS and is affecting organisations from across a range of sectors.

“Our focus is on supporting organisations to manage the incident swiftly and decisively, but we will continue to communicate with NHS colleagues and will share more information as it becomes available.

“As at 15.30, 16 NHS organisations had reported that they were affected by this issue.”

The NHS is under increasing attack from cyber blackmailers attempting to extort ransoms from dozens of hospitals using internet viruses which encrypt data.

Health service trusts serving millions of patients have been hit by the “ransomware” attacks in the past 12 months, prompting concern that antiquated IT systems are leaving NHS data such as patient records vulnerable to exploitation by criminals.

The rise of ransomware was last week highlighted by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement body, as the “dominant threat” to public and private organisations across Europe as organised crime groups deploy an increasingly sophisticated arsenal of viruses.

“NHS trusts are being increasingly targeted and any loss of patient data would be a nightmare scenario. Like everyone else, they need to be applying robust controls.”

Ransomware works by implanting a piece of software, often sent disguised in an email, which then turns data on a machine or network into encrypted gobbledygook. The senders then demand a ransom, paid in an untraceable cyber currency such as BitCoin, which averages £350 to £700 but can reach into thousands. According to one estimate, the extortion racket is worth some £300m a year.

NHS Digital, the body which oversees cybersecurity for the health service, acknowledged an increase in attacks but said that no ransom was paid in any of the “rare” serious ransomware incidents reported to it and that no data was lost. It said patient records had not been affected, adding that the NHS was one of myriad organisations being targeted by the attacks.

I was taken aback this week when I spotted a release I hadn’t known about... NBA Playgrounds.

Anyone who grew up gaming in the 90s will fondly remember NBA Jam, the Midway classic arcade basketball game.

Well to all intents and purposes, it’s back in this hybrid cross between Jam and NBA Street.

For those of you who haven’t played NBA Jam or Street, Playgrounds is a 2-on-2 basketball game in the arcade style of both its predecessors.

At only £19.99 it looks great value too and should hit the nostalgia nerve right on the money.

Officially licensed by the NBA, Playgrounds includes both current and retired players like Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Shaquille O’Neal.

But the best - and most addictive part - promises to be the fact that more NBA players can be unlocked as you progress through the game, as can new moves for each of those players.

We are promised that hundreds more NBA Players will be added post-launch (May 9th) and they will be free.

Playground has single player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer modes, which will include online tournaments.

Other features include a lottery pick system, which will offer in-game rewards, and plenty of “over-the-top” dunks, three-point shots, and more.

The player packs resemble the gold blind bags you get on FIFA Ultimate Team.

But let’s not kid ourselves the real joy, and the main reason most of us will part with our money for Playgrounds is the crazy slam dunks and moves, of which there are “hundreds.”

CEO of developers Saber Interactive, Matt Karch, says the game is accessible enough for anyone to pick up and play, but still has “a lot of depth for hardcore pros who’ve mastered their game.”

High-flying, cartoonish arcade basketball madness is out now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Ahead of this year’s Bring Your Dog To Work Day - the event’s founders have published guidance for HR departments of the companies who want to take part.

Natural pet product company HOWND has devised ‘seven HR Guidelines’ after being asked for advice from a number of office-based organisations:

Written consent should be obtained from every office employee ahead of Bring Your Dog to Work Day.

An accurate record of all dogs in the workplace should be kept.

Each dog coming into the workplace should be kept on a leash while walking in the building, as well as outside, and should have an identity tag with the owner’s contact details.

Dogs must be clean and well-groomed ahead of their day at work.

Dogs should be well socialised i.e. good natured and comfortable around dogs and people.

Each participating employee should bring a ‘Dog Packed Lunch’ - including treats, toys, a lead, water bowl, and food.

Each participating employee should also bring appropriate bedding for their dog, i.e. dog basket, mat or rug. Just so the working day is as comfortable as possible!

But isn’t this event just a novelty for workplaces? It might seem that way, but the benefits of allowing people to bring their pets to work have been studied in some depth by Virginia Commonwealth University. The research showed an 11 per cent reduction in the stress levels of employees which is significant enough to turn the heads of dog owners and team motivators in a range of companies.

“The presence of pets can substantially reduce a person’s stress level in the workplace. Increased job satisfaction, team cooperation and morale have all been reported in employees that spend the workday with their pets,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.

Raising Money for Charity

Raising money for animal welfare and promoting the benefits of bringing dogs into safe work environments are both aims of the event founder HOWND.

Businesses that wish to take part can do so as ‘Business Sponsors’. Previous years saw a wide range of businesses from across many industries getting involved and this is only set to increase. Companies such as Scottish & Southern Electric, Private Fly, Shore Capital, Henry Schein, as well as a host of UK pet businesses have all sponsored in the past.

The two official charities for 2017 are All Dogs Matter, which rescues and rehomes hundreds of dogs each year in the UK and Animals Asia, a charity foundation that saves dogs and cats from the corrupt meat trade in China and Vietnam.

If you own or run a business, you can participate by making an online donation to become a business sponsor. In return for a minimum donation of £50, your company’s logo and website link will be displayed on the Bring Your Dog to Work Day website homepage. All the money raised will be split equally between All Dogs Matter and Animals Asia.

Individuals can also make a donation whether they take their dogs to work or not. For a minimum online donation of £2, a picture of a person’s dog can be published in the ‘Dog With A Job Hall Of Fame’. Individuals that donate £5 or more online will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £100s of goodies from our business sponsors.

Past Success

Bring Your Dog To Work Day has become a recognised calendar event.

This has led to the initiative claiming bronze and silver ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ accolades at the annual PetQuip Awards.

“We’ve enjoyed incredible results on a shoestring budget. The day has been featured on national television and been the focus of a number of radio talking points around the country,” adds Jo.

Celebrities have got involved too, with the likes of Ricky Gervais and ITV’s Loose Women tweeting their support. This has helped the #BringYourDogToWorkDay hashtag trend on Twitter in both 2015 and 2016.

Be in a movie

Participants in this year’s Bring Your Dog To Work Day will also have the opportunity to contribute to its first official movie.

Through an award-winning app called Seenit Capture, those who take part can join the BYD2017 project, before recording and uploading clips of their dogs at work. These clips will be used to create a short film.

Bring your dog to work day takes place on June 23rd. For further information about Bring Your Dog To Work Day please visit the official website, or email hello@bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk.

A cream or ointment may soon cure baldness or stop hair turning grey, a new study suggests.

The cells that makes hairs and turns it grey was accidentally discovered by US scientists as they explored how certain cancer tumours form.

The breakthrough could one day identify possible treatments for balding and hair greying and also explain why we age.

Associate Professor of Dermatology Dr Lu Le at UT Southwestern Medical Centre said: “Although this project was started in an effort to understand how certain kinds of tumours form, we ended up learning why hair turns grey and discovering the identity of the cell that directly gives rise to hair

“With this knowledge, we hope in the future to create a topical compound or to safely deliver the necessary gene to hair follicles to correct these cosmetic problems.”

The study found the protein called KROX20, more commonly associated with nerve development, turned on in skin cells that become the hair shaft.

These hair precursor, or progenitor, cells then produce a protein called stem cell factor (SCF) which is essential for hair pigmentation.

When scientists deleted the SCF gene in the hair progenitor cells in mice, their hair turned white.

When they deleted the KROX20-producing cells, no hair grew and the mice became bald.

Prof Le made the discovery while studying a disorder called Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare genetic disease that causes tumours to grow on nerves.

Scientists already knew stem cells contained in a bulge area of hair follicles are involved in making hair and that SCF is important for pigmented cells.

What they did not know in detail was what happens after those stem cells move down to the base, or bulb, of hair follicles and which cells in the hair follicles produce SCF - or that cells involved in hair shaft creation make the KROX20 protein.

If cells with functioning KROX20 and SCF are present, they move up from the bulb, interact with pigment-producing melanocyte cells, and grow into pigmented hairs.

But without SCF, the hair in mouse models was grey, and then turned white with age,

Without KROX20-producing cells, no hair grew.

Future research will try to find out if the KROX20 in cells and the SCF gene stop working properly as people age, leading to the greying and hair thinning seen in older people, as well as in male pattern baldness.

The research also could provide answers about why we age in general as hair greying and hair loss are among the first signs of ageing.

The study was published in Genes & Development.

Experts have issued a warning that ‘aliens’ are threatening Britain’s rarest reptile, after European lizards have moved over from the continent - and are killing our native species.

The continental wall lizard has been spotted in its hundreds across the south of England causing a significant drop in rare native sand lizards.

Experts are now urging the public to keen an eye out for the ‘alien’ lizards so they can keep tabs on local wildlife figures.

Robert Williams, doctoral student from Leeds University, has set up an online mapping system so eagle eyed spotters can report their sightings of the wall-climbing reptiles.

He said: “They could have a competitive interaction with native lizards, the main focus of my study is to quantify where wall lizards have increased and where native ones have declined.

“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the wall lizards are increasing and the sand lizard is in trouble, they are suffering in terms of their habitat loss.

“There is a major reintroduction process going on for the sand lizard.

“Wall lizards have been in Bournemouth since the 1960s and they are quite common, but since the wall lizard have been there it is very hard to find sand lizards, they are one of the rarest reptiles in Britain.

“They both share the same habitat and compete for the same food resources.

“If wall lizards reach seriously invasive stages it could have an impact on bugs and butterflies on the flip side they could provide a food source for birds of prey like kestrels.”

Wall lizards can grow up to 20cm in length and can be identified from a mottled pattern on its back and sometimes blue scales along its sides.

Unlike British lizards, which spend their time on the ground, wall lizards are very agile and are often seen running up vertical surfaces.

He added: “Wall lizards are very easy to spot basking on sunny days.

“Considerable survey effort is required to get around to all the known wall lizard sites and there is a need for updated population surveys, assessment of range expansion, and of course identification of new populations.

“The public can help us assess just how widespread the lizards are in the UK and make a valuable contribution to this project by reporting your own wall lizard sightings, whether locally or further afield.”

Sand lizards are facing a dramatic loss in habitat prompting wildlife campaigners to introduce a captive breeding programme.

A range of nightlights available in the likes of Boots, Mothercare, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been recalled over fears that the products could overheat and pose a safety issue.

The children’s lights are manufactured by Brother Max, whose products are carried by Boots, Tesco Direct, Mothercare and Sainsbury’s among others.

There are two versions of the product affected by the recall, which has been prompted by what the company describe as “an isolated incident where the product overheated”.

The Brother Max Carry & Hang Nightlight comes in ‘Bunny’ and ‘Bear’ options - model number: 70384BL2 with barcode: 5060164670384.

A company statement reads: “The incident is being fully investigated and due to the potentially serious nature of the risk and our commitment to safety, we have taken a precautionary decision to voluntarily recall this product until further notice.”

Anyone in possession of one of these items is advised to stop using it immediately and unplug at the mains.

Affected customers can email the Brother Max helpline for a refund.

Email: family@brothermax.com

Tel: 01280 878266 - Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm / Friday 9.00am to 3pm

Summer’s about to get a tad bit boozier as discount supermarket Aldi has announced new premium adult-only ice popsicles.

Gianni’s Alcoholic Ice Popsicles, which cost £2.99 for a four pack, come in two summery flavours (Peach Bellini and Gin and Tonic) and are set to be a must-have for every summer BBQ.

Made with Prosecco from the Padova and Venice regions of Italy, Gianni’s Peach Bellini combines peach and prosecco to give you the perfect treat, rain or shine, and the Gin & Tonic Ice will prove it’s not just mother’s ruin after all.

The popsicles have an Alcohol by Volume measure of 4.5 per cent.

‘Sunshine not guaranteed’

“We are proud to bring popular products and trends to our customers whilst staying committed to our low price promise,” says Tony Baines, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi UK.

“Although sunshine may not be guaranteed, our alcoholic popsicles are sure to be a hit with adults across the UK, whatever the weather!”

Gianni’s Alcoholic Ice Popsicles are on sale now.

A leading food psychologist has revealed ways to beat our favourite cravings like salt, cheese and coffee - with a series of healthy substitutes.

Dr Christy Fergusson answers why so many Brits can’t resist everyday temptations - and how to conquer them.

She claims that by providing the body with quick solutions it IS possible to lower the amount of unhealthy food consumed and stop these cravings in their tracks.

The doc says cravings like carbs and sugar can be avoided by munching on healthier options such as fruit, water and turkey.

Dr Christy, working with Seasonal Berries, says sugar and chocolate cravings can be beaten by eating fruit - particularly berries.

Cravings for salt like pretzels, nuts or crisps can be trumped with Himalayan pink salt of Celtic sea salt and filtered water.

Carbohydrates yearnings can be driven away by eating turkey, fish, chicken, quinoa, buckwheat, nuts, seeds, beans, and pulses.

Cravings for coffee can be staved off by an intake of tyrosine-rich foods such as bananas, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans and oats.

And Dr Christy says cheese lovers can beat their addiction by eating foods such as nuts and seeds, as well as oily fish such as tuna, salmon and trout.

Sugar

The craving - Most Brits crave sugar when trying to eat healthily, but snacks such as chocolate bars and cakes simply serve to send us on a blood sugar rollercoaster - which means we ride high and then crash soon after. Fergusson says that the body needs essential glucose for energy.

The cure - to ensure the body is fed glucose every three to four hours, folk should be stocking up on strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries as these fruits contain fructose (fruit sugars) which are released slowly into the bloodstream. Eating these regularly will keep moods consistent and energy levels steady throughout the day. Fresh berries are one of the best foods to snack as they are loaded with antioxidants and highly nutritious. You could say they are nature’s brain food. They pack a serious nutritional punch for every calorie consumed. This makes them the ideal way to supercharge your system with nutrients, without escalating your blood sugar levels.”

Salt

The craving - Fergusson claims that what the body actually wants is minerals. The body needs minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, and zinc to stay healthy - if you are deficient in any of these you will think you want salt. Similarly, craving salt can be a sign of dehydration, as sodium works by keeping water in the body to hydrate cells.

The cure - Rather than opting for pretzels, salty nuts or crisps which are sprinkled with table salt, opt for Himalayan pink salt of Celtic sea salt which are rich in minerals. And always drink plenty of filtered water.

Carbohydrates

The craving - During the dark winter months the lack of sunshine leaves most of us deficient in our feel-good brain chemical serotonin. As our serotonin levels drop, our brain seeks balance and we crave carbs. Refined carbohydrates - such as white rice, white bread or white - spike our blood sugar levels causing amino acids to get shunted out of our cells giving tryptophan gets a free ride across our blood/brain barrier. This gives a temporary boost in serotonin. The problem is that refined carbs are often nutrient deficient and lack the building blocks we need to create serotonin. So when our blood sugar plummets again, the craving comes back, but what the body really wants is serotonin.

The cure - to keep your brain brimming with serotonin without spiking your blood sugar levels, you need to eat good quality protein such as turkey, fish, chicken, quinoa, buckwheat, nuts, seeds, beans, and pulses to provide your body with a good supply of amino acids including tryptophan. Avoid serotonin sabotages such as caffeine, nicotine, and artificial sweeteners. These deplete the body of nutrients essential for converting tryptophan to 5-HTP to serotonin.

Coffee

The craving - If you struggle to start the day without a strong cup of coffee, your body might need a boost of catecholamines - adrenaline and dopamine which help to energise and motivate. This means the body really wants Tyrosine - as this supports the production of catecholamines.

The cure - rather than drinking coffee you could increase your intake of tyrosine-rich foods such as bananas, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans and oats.

Cheese

The craving - although delicious, eating a cheese board every night isn’t ideal, but if the body is craving cheese this could be a sign of an essential fatty acid deficiency. These are good fats which the body can’t manufacture itself - omega 3 and omega 6.

The cure - rather than tucking into a block of Edam, Fergusson recommends eating foods such as nuts and seeds, as well as oily fish such as tuna, salmon and trout.

Dr Christy Fergusson, a food psychologist for Seasonal Berries, said: “Serotonin is our feel good happy brain chemical which keeps our moods high and our cravings at bay.

“As the dark nights roll in and our serotonin levels plummet, we can find our energy drops, our moods turn and the sugar cravings kick in. Relying on high sugar foods, biscuits and crisps to keep us going can leave us riding the blood sugar rollercoaster.

“We feel buzzed for a spell but soon our energy, concentration and mood can plummet. If you find yourself losing focus and the brain fog descending as the afternoon wears on, bust out a punnet of fresh berries and the antioxidants will help sharpen your mind.”

Matt Adcock reviews Alien: Covenant (15), directed by Ridley Scott

In space, no-one can hear you sigh.

Alien Covenant is the fifth film in the classic sci-fi horror series and its events follow ten years after the ill-fated Prometheus mission whose crew ran into hostile xenomorphs (as well as lots of ponderous semi-religious hokum).

This time we join plucky Ripley wannabe Daniels (Katherine ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ Waterston) awakened many years early - Passengers style - from her hyper-sleep when the Covenant is hit by a solar flare. With the lives of the 2,000 colonists on board in jeopardy there is no time to at least be grateful that it’s a life endangering spaceship crisis rather than a creepy planned space date by Chris Pratt.

The crew who include Captain Oram (Billy ‘The Flash’ Crudup), Pilot Tennessee (Billy ‘Watchmen’ McBride), Sergeant Lope (Demián ‘The Nun’ Nájera), Sergeant Hallett (Nathaniel ‘Rush’ Dean) and synthetic Walter (Michael Fassbender) bicker and then decide to stop off and investigate a nearby ‘earth like’ planet rather than continue to their original long haul destination.

From then on it’s kinda Aliens business as usual as the crew discover that the planet is home to the a range of acid-blood, face-hugging, people-eating nasties. Director Ridley Scott amps up the action quotient and effectively throws in many Alien series nods (they mostly come at night, the gestation cycle varies on the importance of the character, the crew must use unorthodox methods to try and battle the slimy foes) but there is very little that feels ‘new’.

It all looks cinematically stunning and the aliens look great, plus there are some very nasty deaths and inventively mean situations engineered. The main problem though is that the plot can’t help but become another ‘let’s get off this planet’ escape-em-up and we’ve seen this before.

Waterston and Fassbender are both good, Fassbinder in particular gives his all and carries the movie through some dubious plot points that feel unnecessary. The rest of the crew are pretty interchangeable alien fodder though and don't even get any memorable lines.

If this was the first Alien film released it would score better but it stands in the shadow of the original Alien (and Aliens) both of which are truly excellent, and doesn’t even have the distinct ‘feel’ of the other entries. So Covenant delivers a good but not great addition to a series which really needs a world-class revival next time or the series risks drifting off into space losing viewers in the process.

Aylesbury United and Aylesbury FC will once again line up in Division One Central of the Southern League next season, after the FA published the 2017/18 proposed league allocations this week.

For what will be their fifth year in the league, the Ducks will have some different opponents to face in the shape of AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Cambridge City, Hartley Wintney, Hayes & Yeading United, Moneyfields and Thame United.

The Moles, meanwhile, will also take their place in Division One Central and face the same opponents after they just about staved off relegation thanks to a late revival under boss Davis Haule.

Leaving the division next year are promoted sides Royston Town and Farnborough (to the Premier Division), Potters Bar Town (transferred to the Ryman League), Kidlington (transferred to the South & West Division) as well as relegated duo Histon and Petersfield Town.

The full lineup for next season is as follows: AFC Dunstable, AFC Rushden & Diamonds (transferred from Northern Premier League), Arlesey Town, Ashford Town (Mx), Aylesbury FC, Aylesbury United, Barton Rovers, Beaconsfield Town (no longer Beaconsfield SYCOB), Bedford Town, Cambridge City (relegated from Premier Division), Chalfont St. Peter, Egham Town, Fleet Town, Hanwell Town, Hartley Wintney (Combined Counties League champions), Hayes & Yeading United (relegated from Premier Division), Kempston Rovers, Marlow, Moneyfields (Wessex League champions), Northwood, Thame United (Hellenic League champions), Uxbridge.